Individual Counseling Insights From Westlake Village-Based Patricia McTague-Loft
It may be wishful thinking, but it seems there was a time when American politicians were willing to take responsibility for their actions — when they held themselves accountable to the American public. Perhaps the most famous example is President Harry Truman, who kept a sign on his desk, “The Buck Stops Here.”
There’s a valuable lesson in that example. Whether people agreed or disagreed with Truman’s decisions (he actually holds the distinction of having at one point the lowest approval rating in Gallup’s history of tracking ratings), he was also widely respected. That highlights the fact that holding yourself personally accountable for your actions is a crucial aspect of earning the respect of friends, family, co-workers and the community at large.
Writing for Success.com, Kaylen Mckenna defines personal accountability and points out the benefits of doing so. “Personal accountability means accepting responsibility for your actions, words and behaviors and their consequences,” she writes. “Often, we have an initial impulse to pass the blame or cover up our mistakes, but personal accountability requires that we resist that urge. Holding yourself accountable for what you do and say can deepen your personal and professional relationships while continually improving yourself.”
Accountability as an umbrella concept is multi-faceted, and each facet is inter-related. Mckenna delves into four aspects — personal accountability, empowerment, self-awareness and goal-setting — and characteristics of each in both your personal and professional life.
Personal Accountability. On the most basic level personal accountability can be thought of as synonymous with personal responsibility. You simply take ownership of your actions and their results. In your personal life it typically involves mundane affairs — doing your part to make a household run or keep a relationship healthy. Personal accountability in your professional life is similar but often involves a more extensive network. As Mckenna writes, it “plays a key role in our professional lives and work affairs. Professional accountability is showcased through actions such as meeting deadlines, delivering high-quality work and fostering positive relationships with colleagues. It involves taking ownership and responsibility for your decisions, work and how you communicate and interact with others in a professional setting.” It’s of critical importance for leaders within an organization. Mckenna cites research that shows that an overwhelming majority of people in an organization believe that how a leader behaves personally is the most important factor influencing accountability throughout the organization.
Personal empowerment is a powerful and typically positive attribute. Believing you have the power to achieve a goal is fundamentally important to success. While there are factors in your personal life that can make you feel powerless (racism, for example, or a problem with addiction), situations that can disempower a person in their professional life are typically more common. A poorly run business, for example, may simply be organized in such a way that employees do not have the authority to make decisions on their own. On the flip side, a business that encourages people to make decisions (while taking responsibility for the results) creates a culture of professional growth.
Self-awareness is crucial for developing healthy relationships in your private life and succeeding professionally. Mckenna says that in your personal life it, “enables you to understand how your values, strengths and areas for growth impact your decisions, words and behaviors. This allows you to better understand and take accountability for what you do. It also fuels personal development by helping you understand what you could do better on an individual level.” In your professional life it’s a necessity simply because everyone can improve their skills — but the key is understanding which skills need improvement, whether it’s a technical skill or ability to relate to others.
Goal-setting may not be something you consider when you think about your personal relationships. But consciously taking accountability for your actions can lead to better, deeper relationships with friends or romantic partners. In your professional life it can lead to a reputation for reliability and help you develop leadership traits. In both cases it’s a wonderful way to encourage your relationships and career to thrive.